Some of the teams I have had to put out haven’t been strong enough for Newcastle

Alan Pardew

Toon chief Pards is still reeling from Loic ­Remy’s shock decision to snub the Geordies in favour of QPR.

And he admits Newcastle have a fight on their hands to stay out of trouble after a run of nine defeats in their last 12 Premier League games.

They face fellow strugglers Reading at St James’ Park tomorrow without the new striker Pardew believes the team desperately needs to fill the void left by departed top scorer Demba Ba.

And he has warned fans who think the Toon are too good to go down after last season’s fifth-place finish that they’re kidding themselves.

Pardew said: “We shouldn’t be lost to the fact that we could be relegated and that’s an important message for our fans.

“We definitely need a player or two in this window to make sure of our Premier League ­status. Our squad is too weak.

“Some of the teams I have had to put out haven’t been strong enough for Newcastle.

“That’s been caused by an ­injury crisis, Demba’s clause and Cheick Tiote being away at the African Nations Cup.

“We’re under pressure and we can’t take a risk.

“I’m being realistic and we’re not going to cruise through the second half of the season ­because, in my experience, that won’t happen.

“We’re going to have to ­battle down there and it’s about time we realised we’re going to have to battle.

“Financially, we’re a well-run club, but we know that we need to invest in our team because other clubs will, if not now, then in the summer.”

After entertaining Reading, Newcastle visit Aston Villa for two games which could define their season. Though upset at Remy’s U-turn, he backs the board’s stance in refusing to match QPR’s £80,000-a-week ­offer.

He added: “We’re not going to pay silly money. This club is on a sound ­financial ­footing and we will offer money in the correct way.

“I’m confident I have an ­aggressive board and though I don’t do the finance side, I ­believe we are the most aggressive we have been since I’ve been at the club.”

Fabricio Coloccini will ­captain Newcastle tomorrow before a meeting with MD Derek Llambias and Pardew, which will determine whether he stays at the club or gets his wish granted to ­return to Argentina.

Pardew added: “With Colo, I think there’s a ­determination to play well, which he did at Norwich last week.